£8 million Glasgow cycling project rebrands

The aim of the project is to "connect Woodside to the wider city for sustainable travel"

City Council and Sustrans Scotland have announced that they have rebranded the Woodside Mini Holland active travel project as ‘Connecting Woodside’.

The project, a winner of Sustrans Scotland’s 2017 Community Links Plus design competition, will deliver world-class walking and cycling infrastructure throughout the Woodside community. Through its area-based approach, benefits to the community will include improved health, wellbeing and an enhanced environment.

Pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School in Woodside contributed to the rebranding through submitting creative name suggestions, which assisted in shaping the brand of Connecting Woodside. Staff and pupils were joined by Sustrans Scotland CL Plus project coordinator Marie Davis, and Glasgow City Council’s convener for sustainability and carbon reduction Anna Richardson, to announce the updated branding.

The new identity reflects the aims of the project, which is to, “connect Woodside to the wider city for sustainable travel, as well as the Woodside community.” This will be achieved through implementing an area-based approach to improve walking, cycling and public space.

Sustrans Scotland head of project delivery Matthew Macdonald said: “The new project name, Connecting Woodside, reflects the input and engagement of local Woodside residents and community groups. This is an exciting first step in the transformation of the area into a neighbourhood which will be safer and more pleasant for people to live in and travel through by foot or by bike.”

Connecting Woodside originally took inspiration from London’s Mini-Holland competition and transport infrastructure in the Netherlands. Part of the project will include a segregated cycle route along St George’s Road from Charing Cross to Possil Road and will connect to the Sauchiehall Street Avenue, which is currently being delivered through the City Deal Regeneration.

The proposal also includes the expansion of the cycle network into the city centre, St George’s Road, Woodlands Road, Garscube Road and the Forth and Clyde Canal in a bid to encourage cycling as the favoured commuter option.

Susan Allan, headteacher at St Joseph’s Primary School, concluded: “Staff, pupils and parents have collectively welcomed the Connecting Woodside project which will create safer routes for our pupils to walk and cycle to school, after-school clubs and leisure facilities. We’re excited to watch the area flourish and transform into a community that favours transport by bike or foot.”

Connecting Woodside was awarded £7 million for the development of the programme over the next three years, with Glasgow City Council providing a further £1 million in addition to city deal funding for Sauchiehall Street.